Paddle-ball game



M y 1957 R. COURSEY 2,792,225

PADDLE-BALL GAME Filed April '27, 1955 x INVENTOR Rude, Caourseq.

ATTORNEY United States Patent PADDLE-BALL GAME Rudell Coursey, Bowling Green, Ky., assignor to Gustave Miller, Washington, D. C.

Application April 27, 1955, Serial No. 564,135

4 Claims. (Cl. 273---97) This invention relates to a paddle-ball game, and it particularly relates to a paddle-ball game which may be played by two opposing sides or persons.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a simple game of skill which is enjoyable for both children and adults.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a paddle-ball type of game which engenders competition as well as the development of coordination of hand and eye.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide an improved paddle-ball game, of the character described, that is easily and economically produced, which is sturdy in construction, and which is highly entertaining in use.

With the above and related objects in view, this invention consists in the details of construction and combination of parts, as will be more fully understood from the following description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a device embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the device of Fig. 1, as taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the device.

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of the device showing the game in action.

Referring now in greater detail to the drawing wherein similar reference characters refer to similar parts, there is shown a paddle 10, constructed of wood or other suitable material, having a top surface 12 and a bottom surface 14. The sides 16 of the paddle incline inwardly from a wide section 18 to a relatively narrow tip portion 20. A reduced handle portion 22 extends axially from the wide section 18. The handle portion 22 is provided with oppositely concaved edges 24 to provide a handle and permit easy grasping. A round opening 26 is provided in the wide section 18 and a slot 27 intersects one side of the opening.

The top and bottom surfaces of the paddle are relatively flat and are each provided with colored markings, such markings being shown in the form of crossed lines 28 and a circle 29 at the intersection thereof. Additional lines extend from the opening 26. The colors of these markings differ on each surface of the paddle; for example, they may be red on one surface and blue on the other. When playing the game, the side of the paddle marked in one color represents one competitor or competing side while the side marked in the other color represents the other competing side.

A resilient string or band 30, which may be made of rubber or similar material, is connected at one end 32 to the relatively narrow end of the paddle, while its other end is connected to a ball 34 made of rubber or the like. The ball 34 has a diameter only slightly smaller than that of the opening 26 so that it just fits through the opening.

The length of the band 30, when unstretched, is equivalent to the distance between the end of the paddle, where it is connected at 32, to the circle 29 indicated in color on each face of the paddle. In this manner, the ball 34 lies within the confines of circle 29 when the paddle is held horizontally with the ball lying thereon free from tension.

In playing the game, the paddle is moved in an up and down motion by the wrist and elbow to keep the ball 34 bouncing from one side of the paddle to the other in an are limited by the length of the band 30. The paddle 10 is moved faster and faster and the ball 34 keeps bouncing harder and faster while centrifugal force stretches the band, increasing the radius of the arc of travel of the ball until the ball eventually falls through the opening 26 in the paddle from either one side or the other. When the ball falls through the opening, the band 30 is caught in the slot 27 which maintains it in position. This passage of the ball through the opening 26 represents a goal scored in the game.

Various rules may be used for the game. A suggested set of rules which permits two or more persons to play the game consists of setting up two teams, each consisting of one or more persons. One team is represented by the color of the markings on one side of the paddle while the other team is represented by the color of the markings on the other side of the paddle. Each of the players receives an opportunity to manipulate the paddle. If the ball passes through the opening 26 from the side of the paddle bearing the colors of the team which the person handling the paddle represents, it comprises a goal scored for that team. On the other hand, if the ball passes through the opening from the side of the paddle bearing the color markings of the opposing team, it represents a goal scored for that team. With practice, a player can learn to manipulate the paddle in such a manner that the ball will nearly always pass through the opening from the side of the paddle desired by the player.

Although this invention has been described in considerable detail, such description is intended as being illustrative rather than limiting, since the invention may be variously embodied and the scope of the invention is to be determined as claimed.

Having thus set forth and disclosed the nature of this invention, what is claimed is:

1. A game device comprising an elongated paddle, a handle portion on one end of said paddle, a single hole in said paddle adjacent said handle portion, a slot extending a short distance from said hole in the opposite direction from said handle portion and terminating in a closed end, a resilient band connected to the end of said paddle opposite said handle portion, the distance from said closed end of said slot to the band connecting end of said paddle being substantially greater than the unstretched length of said resilient band, and a ball connected to the free end of said band, said ball having a diameter just slightly less than that of the hole, the hole being located in the midline of said elongated paddle, whereby when said ball in play passes through said single hole from one side of said paddle, said band enters said slot and said ball is caught and held against the opposite side of said paddle to represent a goal scored in the game.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said band is of such a length that when overlying the paddle in unstretched condition, the ball lies approximately midway between the end of the paddle to which said band is connected and said hole.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein a circle is marked on each surface of the paddle, the ball being encompassed by one of these circles when the band overlies the paddle in'unstretched condition.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein markings in different colors 'are provided on each side of the paddle to repre- 964,473

sent different players. 2,208,086

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 361,845

430,155 Taylor June 17, 1890 411,138

4 Kane July 12, 1910 Singer July 16, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Germany Sept. 30, 1922 Great Britain June 1, 1934 

